Greenmantle
Garden Roses

We offer to you our personal collection of roses......This
has been selected as a representative gathering of the whole GenusRosa,
and assembles plants of distinct character, aesthetic merit, and historical
significance. The many branches of the rose family-tree flourish here
in all their remarkable diversity. Special emphasis is being devoted
to the preservation of wild species from around the world, as well as
a wide variety of cultivated roses from every era. Respected elders of
this ancient tribe are joined in the garden by intriguing eccentrics
that deserve more recognition. Whether magnificent old classics or the
rarest of gems they are essential facets of the Rose.....

While in truth no individual garden could encompass all the marvels
of this genus - we feel our chosen roses do possess outstanding quality,
true beauty, and enduring value. Their number is four hundred, neither
large nor small. More than most private gardeners would need or want,
far less than public display gardens would consider necessary, and not
nearly impressive enough for any claim of encyclopedic stature. Yet for
us, each selection contributes one note to the tone of the garden, and
each is distinguished by its own cachet.

"One single rose
is all roses, and this particular one, unique, perfect,
a supple word with which to speak the text
of all things."

- Rainier Maria Rilke ( 1875-1926 )

Superior merit in its class has been the prime consideration for each
rose we've picked. Rosa knows a lot of tricks, and has displayed
a stunning array during its celebrated run as horticultural star of the
first magnitude. Over the centuries, the Rose has magically transformed
itself to illuminate the face of profound pure beauty.

Rose colors - from ethereal to dazzling - span a remarkably rich spectrum:
almost every subtle tint and dramatic shade can be seen. And who could
explain the perfumes of the rose? Their allure is ineffable - merely
say with awe that roses offer glorious fragrance of unforgettable quality.
How many other plants boast fabulous thorns, or spring and autumn foliage
flushed with luminous hues? Even the ripe fruit of certain rose types
is brilliantly enticing and highly nutritious. Does any other flower
show such capacity to shift shape? Petal counts from the simply single
to the deeply double, elegantly scrolled buds or rounded rosettes, wild
airy blooms and magnificent lush blossoms: All the permutations of loveliness
will be found in this creature of infinite variety.

Not to mention versatility... The Rose may be renowned for its
exquisite floral appeal, but the chameleon nature of the plant adds extra
attraction. Consider the abundance of different growth habits offered
by roses: we have tried to acknowledge and accommodate them all. No other
garden plant comes in such an astounding range of sizes and classes.
If expected to mask a wall, it can leap tall buildings in several bounds.
Established in a sunny center of the landscape, it becomes a bright and
genial presence. Nestled in a carefully chosen container, it can be as
decorative as any other object d'art. In each guise, the rose
fulfills its biological destiny as well as our designing agendas. Genetics
at the service of Aesthetics. Whatever the set and scenario, it brings
to the role lots of emotion. A rose always means something - even if
it’s JUST A ROSE.

A very wide natural range and a willing adaptability have made this
plant a cherished companion throughout human history. We find the rose
a constant dweller in cultivated space - from the temples of the long
ago Mediterranean world to the cloisters of the High Middle Ages, from
courtyards in Persia and India to the pleasure grounds of golden age
China. Sacred in many times and places, it is the adornment of rustic
doorways and the charm by the gateway of civilization, showing forth
both the power to enchant and the power to endure. Renaissance is rose
nature. Its character is one of endless renewal - in the seasonal growth
of the individual plant and in the proliferating forms of the entire
family. Scent embodies its essence; symbolism enhances its energy. The
rose is ordinary ornamental.....grown in every garden - and extraordinary
image.....glowing in the mind.